Des. Then 'would to heaven, that I had never seen it. Oth. Ha! wherefore? Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash? Oth. Is't lost? is 't gone? speak, is it out of the way? Des. Heaven bless us! Oth. Say yon? Des. It is not lost: But what an if it were? Oth. Ha! Des. I say it is not lost. Oth. Fetch't, let me see it. Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now; This is a trick, to put me from my suit; I pray, let Cassio be receiv'd again. Oth. Fetch me that handkerchief: my mind misgives. Des. Come, come; You'll never meet a more sufficient man. Des. Oth. The handkerchief, Des. I pray, talk me of Cassio. A man that, all his time, Hath founded his good fortune on your love; Shar'd dangers with you; Oth. You are to blame. Oth. Emil. The handkerchief, A way! [Exit OTHELLO. Is not this man jealous? Des. I ne'er saw this before. Sure, there's some wonder in this handkerchief: I am most unhappy in the loss of it. Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us. Look you! Cassio, and my husband. Enter IAGO and CASSIO. Iago. There's no other way; 'tis she must do't; And, lo, the happiness! go, and importune her. Des. How now, good Cassio? what's the news with you? Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you, That, by your virtuous means, I may again Can ransome me into his love again, Des. Alas! thrice gentle Cassio, My advocation is not now in tune; My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, As I have spoken for you all my best; And stood within the blank of his displeasure, Emil. Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, When it hath blown his ranks into the air; And, like the devil, from his very arm Puff'd his own brother;-And can he be angry? Something of moment, then: I will go meet him; There's matter in 't indeed, if he be angry. Des. I pr'ythee, do so.-Something, sure, of state, [Exit IAGO. Either from Venice; or some unhatch'd practice, Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,Hath puddled his clear spirit: and, in such cases, Men's natures wrangle with inferior things, Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so: For let our finger ache, and it indues Our other healthful members ev'n to that sense Of pain: Nay, we must think men are not gods Nor of them look for such observances As fit the bridal.-Beshrew me much, Emilia, I was (unhandsome warrior as I am), Arraigning his unkindness with my soul; But now I find, I had suborn'd the witness, Emil. Pray heaven, it be state matters, as you And no conception, nor no jealous toy, Des. Alas, the day! I never gave him cause. They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster, Begot upon itself, born on itself. Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind! Emil. Lady, amen. Des. I will go seek him.-Cassio, walk hereabout: If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit, [Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA. Enter BIANCA. Bian. Save you, friend Cassio! Cas. What make you from home? How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house. Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio. What! keep a week away? seven days and nights? Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours, More tedious than the dial eight score times? O weary reckoning! Cas. Pardon me, Bianca ; I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd; But I shall, in a more continuate time, Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca, [Giving her Desdemona's Handkerchief. Take me this work out. Bian. O, Cassio, whence came this? This is some token from a newer friend. To the felt absence now I feel a cause : Is it come to this? Well, well. Go to! woman, Cas. Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth, From whence you have them. You are jealous now, That this is from some mistress, some remem brance: No, in good troth, Bianca. Bian. Why, whose is it? Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber. I like the work well; ere it be demanded, Cas. I do attend here on the general; Bian. Why, I pray you. Cas. Not that I love you not. But that you do not love me. lago. Or to be naked with her friend abed, They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, heaven. Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip : But if I give my wife a handkerchief, Oth. What then? lago. Why then 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers, She may, I think, bestow't on any man. Oth. She is protectress of her honour too; May she give that? Lago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft, that have it not: But, for the handkerchief, Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it : Thou said'st,-0, it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infected house, Boding to all,-he had my handkerchief. Iago. Ay, what of that? Oth. That's not so good, now. Iago. What, if I had said, I had seen him do you wrong? Or heard him say,-As knaves be such abroad, Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose Oth. Hath he said any thing? Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well as sur'd, No more than he'll unswear. Oth. What hath he said? lago. 'Faith, that he did,-I know not what Iago. With her? With her, on her; what you will. Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!-We say, lie on her, when they belie her: Lie with her! that's fulsome. Handkerchief,-confessions, handkerchief. To confess and be hang'd for his labour. First to be hanged, and then to confess tremble at ft. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion, without some instruction. It is not words, that shake me thus:-Pish !-Noses, ears, and lips: -Is it possible ?-Confess!-Handkerchief!O devil![Falls in a Trance. Iago. Work on, |